Method and apparatus for aseptic packaging
AssigneeSteuben Foods, Inc.
InventorThomas D. Taggart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing aseptically processed low acid products in a container having a small opening, such as a glass or plastic bottle or jar, at a high output processing speed.
Claims20
A method for aseptically bottling aseptically sterilized foodstuffs comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of bottles;
- aseptically disinfecting the plurality of bottles to a level producing at least about a 6 log reduction in spore organisms;
- filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles with the aseptically sterilized foodstuffs;
- and
- filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles at a rate greater than 100 bottles per minute.
The method for aseptically bottling aseptically sterilized foodstuffs comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of bottles;
- aseptically disinfecting the plurality of bottles;
- filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles with the aseptically sterilized foodstuffs;
- and
- filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles at a rate greater than 100 bottles per minute wherein disinfecting the outside surfaces of the plurality of bottles is provided by hydrogen peroxide.
The method for asepctically bottling aseptically sterilized foodstuffs comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of bottles;
- filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles with the aseptically sterilized foodstuffs wherein the aseptically sterilized foodstuffs are sterilized to a level producing at least about 12 log reduction in Clostridium botulinum;
- and
- filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles at a rate greater than 100 bottles per minute.
The method for aseptically bottling aseptically sterilized foodstuffs comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of bottles;
- filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles with the aseptically sterilized foodstuffs;
- and
- filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles at a rate greater than 100 bottles per minute, further including disinfecting the interior of the plurality of bottles with a hot hydrogen peroxide spray wherein the residual level of hydrogen peroxide is less than about 0.5 ppm.
A device for aseptically bottling aseptically sterilized foodstuffs having at least about a 12 log reduction in Clostridium botulinum comprising:
- means for providing a plurality of bottles;
- means for aseptically disinfecting the plurality of bottles;
- means for aseptically filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles with the aseptically sterilized foodstuffs;
- and
- means for filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles at a rate greater than 100 bottles per minute.
A method for aseptically bottling aseptically sterilized foodstuffs comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of bottles;
- aseptically disinfecting the plurality of bottles to a level producing at least about a 6 log reduction in spore organisms;
- filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles with the aseptically sterilized foodstuffs wherein the aseptically sterilized foodstuffs are sterilized to a level producing at least about a 12 log reduction in Clostridium botulinum;
- and
- filling the aseptically disinfected plurality of bottles at a rate greater than 100 bottles per minute, further including disinfecting the interior of the plurality of bottles with a hot hydrogen peroxide spray wherein the residual level of hydrogen peroxide is less than about 0.5 ppm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.